Kashmakash

Part 4

As Naaziya entered the haveli, she leaped onto the sofa and swiftly turned on the television. Inayat rushed in, drawn by the loud volume, and found her daughter busy channel surfing. 'Ho gaye exams? Kaise rahe?' she asked. She stood in front of television on not receiving any response from her.

'Ahhan ammi...samne se hateyein naa. Hayder bhai ke aane se pehle movie dekh lu warna aate hi bolenge...kya wahiyat movie dekh rahi ho kabhi news bhi dekh liya karo' Naaziya mimicked Hayder with a mischievous smile.

'Hayder ka darr nahi hota to tum sab nalayak fail hote. Uske darr se hi sahi par line pe rehte ho' Inayat defended Hayder.

'Hayder ka side mat lo Inayat' Salma said, gently patting the cheek of Naaziya 'Meri phool jaisi beti ka chehra murjha jata hai uske darr se'. Instantly, Naaziya wrapped her arms around Salma, resting her head on her Badi Ammi's shoulder, and silently expressed her gratitude.

'Aapki phool jaisi beti hadtaal pe thi...Hayder manane gaya tha inko' Inayat scoffed.

'Theek to kiya tha isne, exam ke baad ek trip hi to plan kiya tha aisa kya maanga tha jo inkar kar diya' Salma stood up for Naaziya. Inayat glanced Naaziya and found her giving puppy eyes to Salma, Inayat shook her head 'Sabne sar pe chadhaya hua hai isse'.

***

Sameer and Rafia found themselves in another argument, like all time because of Naaziya.

'Appko kyu jana hai. Wo chachi ke saath kyun nahi jaa rahi?'

'Rafiya, usko maine promise kiya tha'

'Promise to aapne mujhe bhi kiya tha last Sunday milne ko...wo cancel karte hue to dukh nahi hua'

'Yaar bataya tha maine...urgent kaam aa gaya tha'

'Wah..Sunday ko kaam aa jaate hai aur Wednesday ko free rehte hai. Aisa kyu nahi karte usse hi nikah bhi kar lijiye'

'DIMAAG KHARAB TO NAHI HO GAYA HAI. BEHEN HAI WO MERI. AINDA AISI BEHUDA BAATEIN MAT KARNA WARNA THEEK NAHI HOGA' Sameer raised his voice, frightening Rafia.

'Sorry, gusse mein bol diya. Kya karu main, meri saari cousins mujhhe kehte rehte hai ki aap sab bhai Naaz pe jarrorat se jyada dhyan dete hai. Mujhe aapka pyar chahiye aur wo jab mujhe nahi milta to gusse mein main kuch bhi bol deti hu' she tried calming him.

'Mujhe ye sab nahi sunana. Tum apni aisi behuda cousins se dur hi raha karo jinko behen aur begum mein antar nahi pata'

'Accha kya antar hai?' She teased, earning a chuckle from him.

'Wo to rukhsati ke baad pata chal jayega'

'Aacha Suniye, Kal main jaati hu Naaziya ke saath. Aap apna kaam khatm kariye aur jo time bache ussme mujhe le jaiyega. Afterall aap jao main jau, baat to ek hi hai'

'Theek hai, tum chali jaana. Aur hum raat ko diner pe chaleinge'

***

During the breakfast gathering, Naaziya's voice cut through the chatter as she began to speak 'Bhaiyo...aaj shopping pe chal rahein hain naa?'. 'Naaz, tumhara exam khatm hua hai baaki logo ka..' Hayder was cut-off by Sameer who replied 'Naaz, Tum Rafia ke saath chali jao. Usko bhi shopping pe jaana hai'. 'Ohoo..aur Rafia Bhabhi ne ye kab bataya aapko' With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Naaziya playfully teased, wiggling her eyebrows. A sudden realization caused Sameer's ears to turn red with embarrassment; 'Khana khao Naaziya, mujhe bataya tha Rafia ne' Inayat responded saving Sameer from embarrassing teasing any further. But that could not save him from everyone's teasing look.

Naaziya and Rabiya were strolling through the shop in mall, but Naaziya soon realized that she was the only one doing the shopping. 'Bhabhi aapne to kuch liya hi nahi. Agli shop apki shopping ke liye jayenge' Naaz said, passing the selected clothes to the salesman for billing. 'Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye tha, wo tumhe koi company nahi thi to maine bola main saath mein chalti hu' Rafia explained.

'Sorry ma'am, this card was rejected. You have maxed out the limit' the billing counter attendant informed Naaziya. She widened her eyes in shock, realizing the extent of her shopping spree. She then pulled out another card with Hayder's name on it, a black card with no spending limit.

After completing her shopping, Naaziya and Rabiya waited for Sameer to pick them up. 'Bhai, aap pehle mujhe ghar chor de, baad mein Bhabhi ko kahin ghuma dijiyega. Unhone kuch nahi khareeda' Naaziya whispered before entering the car. Sameer smiled and nodded in agreement. During the car ride, an awkward silence prevailed, prompting Sameer to ask 'To kya khareeda?'

'Maine bahut kuch, meri to saari Switzerland ki tayari ho gayi. Maine aapka card max out kar diya but isme meri galti nahi hai, Bhabhi ki choice itni aachi hai ki meri shopping jyada ho gayi' Naaziya began giving excuses.

Sameer could see Rafia rolling her eyes, but he smiled at his little sister 'Pata hai mujhe, message aata hai card ka. Phir baaki ki shopping kaise kari?' he inquired, already knowing the answer.

'Wo Hayder bhai wala card; usse use kar liya' she admitted sheepishly.